Customs Siblings Charged for Abetment in 151-Pound Marijuana Bust

Two customs officers, siblings Atlee and Cheryl Castillo, were today charged for abetment to importation of a total of 68.69 kilos, or 151 pounds, of marijuana. The pair appeared in court alongside their attorney, Dickie Bradley, while the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, appeared for the prosecution.

They were each granted bail of $20,000 on the condition that they surrender all travel documents.

The charges come from an investigation launched in May earlier this year when authorities intercepted a package shipped from the United States.

It was declared as “bath and body” products but instead contained tightly sealed bags of high-grade cannabis.

Investigators say a customs officer reported receiving calls from two fellow officers, who are siblings, urging him to clear the box. The female officer was reportedly en route to collect the package when the cannabis was discovered.

Bradley told reporters this morning that “There is a single charge of a very serious nature. It is that they abetted a crime involving a large quantity of the good stuff.” He added, “A junior and senior customs officer, it is a heavy allegation, 69 kilograms of marijuana. It is a very serious allegation, but it is an allegation.”

He criticised the country’s marijuana laws as “grossly outdated,” and argued that people are permitted to possess 10 grams yet cannot legally buy, grow, or sell it.

The charges come just days before the October 8th referendum in Caye Caulker on the legalisation and regulation of marijuana in the country.